1995 Dodge Caravan discharge temp only 95 deg?

JIM WOLYNETZ

MEMBER
1995 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
999,999 MILES

Just purchased a 1995 Dogdge Carvan with hundred thousand miles on it. Everything seems to work ok except the heater. I flushed out the heater cord by diconnecting the heater hoses and flushing out the core with a water hose. Done in both direction and water came out clean. Replaced the thermostate with 195 deg. Ck the heater control value. Was open. Not sure of the vacumn connection or if it had any vacumn at all but the value was fully open. I worked manually and it opened and closed when I pushed it. The hoses seem to be quite hot after I put things back together but the temp coming out of the grill is only 95 deg. The temp gauge on the dash reaches about the third line on the gauge. Don't know if it should be higher. Don't kow the location in normal operation. Please advise

Friday, October 16th, 2009 AT 12:23 PM

5 Replies

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

No, it goes just under half way up, normally. Sometimes air will blow out and water ok at a certain pressure, but it still only tells you it is clear. Not if the blend air door and heat exchange ribs are ok. Same thing happened to mine. Seems like the core gets less efficient and dirt gets in there. You must remove the whole box and see whats wrong, after you make sure that the cable on the lever behind the control is moving the door all the way open. You can take the control panel out, take the rt. Lower plastic panel out and get your arm down there sometimes. The cable goes out of adjustment on some. Joe
Your dealing with an oil(coolant) at maybe 10 to 15 lbs. I cut a panel out of my firewall, with a cutter. Used weld and screws as my special access.

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Friday, October 16th, 2009 AT 3:29 PM

JIM WOLYNETZ

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3 POSTS

Not clear on the answer you gave. Even though I flushed my heater core out with a water hose, water came out clear, so I know the core is clean and not pluged up but I guess it the inside may have a build up of something. I'm pushing 170 deg. Water through the core. Should I acid flush the core?

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Saturday, October 17th, 2009 AT 3:15 PM

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

You are pushing 170 in and getting 150 or so or more out? So it is possible that the air that blows adross the steel fins is not being directed properly, or the cores fins have dirt or an issue keeping the exchange from taking place. Next step is to pull the controls and see, if you can, if it has a cable that is ok, or not ok.
Then you can see where it(called a blend door) is and if it is moving prperly. Ok
Do you understand? The water is hot going in, and hot coming out, so the cable and door inside are the next things to look at.
It is more of a door moving properly issue now.

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Saturday, October 17th, 2009 AT 4:17 PM

JIM WOLYNETZ

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3 POSTS

Thanks for the info. Now I have to locate the blend door. Can you advise me where it's at and how to fix it if it's stuck open. Can you send me a pictuire and location. THANKS

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Sunday, October 18th, 2009 AT 1:17 PM

CH112063

MECHANIC
1,320 POSTS

It is a b. On the caravans. I would take the lower right side black panel first and the control panel second. Then maybe the radio and airbag. Every year was another something in the way so get an electric phillips drive and a cup and go to town. If I get to a service manual or picture I will send it, ok. In the book, they magically, say take this panel off, you turn the page and all the stuff is out of the way and it looks easy. But now you are heading in the correct direction. Unless the water pump is not pushing it. You know.
You should see the recirc door all the way on the right. That is vacuum operated. The temp. Blend is cable unless it has an electric motor. Start with controls panel, cause it is on top of the box.

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Sunday, October 18th, 2009 AT 10:10 PM